[Self-Defense] Size, Strength and Age

"There are many elements that will influence how much force is necessary. The size, strength, health and sometimes the age of the threat matters, as well as your own size, strength and age." -  Chapter 1: Legal and Ethical; para 1.1.3 Facing Violence by Rory Miller

How many of us actually take this into consideration when attacked? Did you actually know when you applied force for self-defense that this also would influence whether your actions would be judged legal vs. illegal?

This also promotes just how important it is for anyone teaching or learning self-defense to get the knowledge and apply it to your practice and training. You may have assumed that these type of things don't matter; mistake.

Example, there was an article not long ago about a woman who was standing in a parking place so as to hold it until her boy friend could bring the car around the block to park. This is not an uncommon action by many in big cities especially when parking is a premium. Anyway, while the  boy friend was going around the block another man pulled up and told her to get out of the way. The woman explained, etc.

To shorten the story the guy got out of his car and apparently decked her. He claimed that the woman attacked him first. She was knocked out and he was arrested. She was about 120 pounds and he was about 215 pounds. She was a small person and he was about 6' 1 or 2". The age was not mentioned so we don't know how far apart their ages were.

Here is where I would have added to the "Size, Strength and Age" the word "gender." I do believe that "gender" would also be of high consideration in a self-defense strategy.

With out any additional information I would "assume" that in front of a Jury those twelve folks would see both parties, if she lives, and say, "Hm, small woman, big man; stronger man vs. average strength woman; age makes no difference; woman vs. man?"

How can a man who is obviously much larger and stronger with a definite advantage as to perceptions and social behaviors to be of greater ability who applied his greater ability against one with less using force that is apparently much greater than necessary to defend, if it was actually defense against her say, slapping him, could not be guilty of assault?

So, you can readily see that size, strength, age, and GENDER do matter. I don't think I could "articulate" anything well enough to overcome my actions and convince a jury of twelve that I was justified in putting a woman in the hospital for a parking space! Right?

p.s. considering the story I used for an example, the need to train and practice to control the monkey brain seems really critical for at least the male species. I say this because in the story above it seems that guy is using the self-defense strategy in desperation because it would appear he allowed his monkey brain to run the show resulting in the assault on the woman. Monkey Brain Training, yea, sounds good to me.

Bibliography:
Miller, Rory. "Facing Violence: Preparing for the Unexpected." YMAA Publications. New Hampshire. 2011.

Practicing Cold

You arrive at the dojo. You enter the dressing area, change into your crisp pressed karate uniform. You put on that well earned colored belt. You take a moment to clear your mind then enter the training area proper, bow in, bow to the kamidana, etc. then begin to warm up.

Sensei arrives to start training. You all do your etiquette thing then get into position for "formal warm-ups and basic waza time." Later you do your kata practice and finally at the end you all participate in the sparring session. In this dojo the last hour is dedicated to self-defense training because your dojo provides a large percentage of training and practice geared toward the combative aspects for self-defense.

Cool, every body is happy and everyone learns a lot of good stuff and we will assume it involves all the right things for self-defense training and practice except for one "small detail."

The "small detail?" You came to practice in a nice, neat, clean and polished wood floor dojo. You are practicing in your bare feet for that is the traditional way for your dojo. You have on a loose fitting karate uniform or loose fitting sweat gear. All is perfect and right in the world.

Do you ever practice cold? I mean do you sometimes have to apply our knowledge cold, no warm up or any kind as if you were strolling along the street when suddenly you are attacked? This brings up another issue, you are on the street in trousers, shirt, socks and shoes let alone some of you who may be in a suit. If you practiced in a karate uniform and barefoot how will your respond when in shoes, slippery dress shoes or non-skid type athletic shoes?

Now are you on a nice clean dojo wood smooth floor or on a sidewalk with obstacles all over the place?

Back to practicing cold and in the every day clothing you wear. Do you practice your self defense in those clothes and in various area's similar to what you encounter to and from work, around your work site, where you go shopping, and so on?

I practice every single day in what I normally wear and I find places I can either physically practice or at least visualize practice as if attacked. This is above and beyond simply practicing avoidance, etc. but that practice, etc. when all else failed and you are attacked.

It is very difficult just jumping into self-defense techniques stone body cold with muscles, tendons, cartilage, etc. not stretched/warmed up for action. It is something that has a different feel and action when applied. Is this something you see done in your self-defense training facility or course you teach/instruct?

Hey, what the heck. If you get attacked you can always tell your attacker, "Hold on man, I have to warm up first." I am sure he will go for that ... ;-)

Black Belt Watch - Real or Memorex

I ran across this in google images. Normally I don't go in for such trinkets but it does look cool. The question is, "Is it real or is it memorex?" [Note: those who are old enough this was a quote for a memorex recording tape ad long ago]

If you live in the U.S. and have one, tell me where you got it ... ;-)

Oh, the URL/Web Site looks official but is it actually a hoax?

Addendum: I did a euro to US conversion of the supposed price and it comes out to a bit over four grand for one of these, ... , you have to be kidding right? If this is not a hoax then the guy is totally out of his mind ... arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! ;-)

Addendum - II: I  received an email from the web site address saying that this is real and can be ordered ONLY on the web site. Just remember, "Buyer beware! :-)"

Martial Art "Activities"

I wanted to comment on this particular statement although short and with out its original complete content simply because I feel that there are misconceptions to the use of "activities" in martial practice. This post is in particular to martial art as in specifically Okinawan Isshinryu Karate.

Activities in this short context tends to make me think that those who would be the uninitiated into thinking it is like any other physical activity such a golf, basketball or any other "sporting event or activity."

I prefer to make sure those who wish to take up a martial art that they view it in a very serious mind-set. In my view and practice it means a system that could lead to all the results provided to anyone who may have to utilize their expertise in a violent situation. It is NOT a simple activity but a serious endeavor taken up with a serious intent, purpose, and goal.

If it remains at the forefront of any conversation of the martial arts above and beyond Isshinryu Karate then it tends to promote something less serious unless the individual(s) can differentiate the terms.

The person who stated this does have that serious intent and their entire post provided that clarity yet it struck me as a term or word that would better suit the overall intent better if it were different.

Activities could have been, "endeavor, practices, training, etc." Martial Art Practices; Martial Art Training; or Martial Art Endeavor." All more suitable and with today's replies on the Animal List as to MA and Self Defense, articulation can/is critical if you need to defend your actions in a court of law, either criminal or civil or both.

Just sayin!

p.s. this does not mean that I don't fall into this as I do tend to fall into it a lot yet I strive to find those mistakes and make it clearer for clarity in articulation goes beyond the above post and into "instruction/teaching" martial arts and I would emphasize more strongly "self-defense."

Caveat Alert - Danger, Danger, Danger Will Robinson

I quote a lot of folks; I allude to their writings; I am wanting to ensure that readers know that the opinions and theories and stuff I post is my opinion, theory, idea's, beliefs, and interpretations of said sources and MUST NOT BE MISCONSTRUED as coming from them or that they are validating/advocating anything I say here on this and other blogs.

I use them as sources of posts where I tend to slide off into my own world, my soapbox monkey brain. I am meandering through this wonderful world of ours, the martial arts, and want everyone to KNOW that this is my stuff and subject to being incorrect; to omissions; to errors of all kinds.

Take it all with a huge dose of skepticism. Nothing is as it would seem yet if has value in your "PURSUIT" of truth and knowledge if only as a stepping stone to greater knowledge.

If you find I am in error; if I am just wrong; if I have omitted; if I have misinterpreted then comment! I can take it! Go ahead and let me know for it means I still can learn and grow and prosper from the wisdom of all who stop by and read my mindless meanderings of martial arts and life.

Etiquette

Morals, Manners, Respect, and others are a few things that "MUST" be present in any martial system training facility. Why? Because no where else is it more apparent that the practice involves the ability and capability to cause harm to another human being. This ability "requires" that the owner of such skill be able to wield that power with a moral foundation.

Recent news events have come up where the offending persons were labeled, "karate," persons who did some nefarious deed against some other person. Martial arts are NOT some game, some sport, some tool that can and is wielded haphazardly and willy nilly.

One martial luminary stated in a book that if he observed certain unacceptable behaviors, etc. in a dojo he would immediately leave and never return. Good advice! I recommend one not compromise morals or respect or humanity to train somewhere because it is the only game in town or the only game close to you for convenience.

Etiquette for me is best explained in this post HERE. If you don't have these qualities or at least are trying live up to them then maybe you should reevaluate the reasons you train and practice. If the training facility you attend cannot at least diligent attempt to live up to these American Samurai rules then find another way to train and practice.

If you are the Sensei and you perceive even a hint of impropriety you MUST step up and address the issue; squelch it before it infects your dojo. No excuses. Just so you will know I am not talking out my ??? I can tell you that if today I entered the training facility as I ran it thirty years ago I would have turned around and found some other place to train. If you were or are like this then clean it up and fix it; it is never too late!

Soap Box gone now ...

Fundamental Principles and Kata

Recently a post by Sue C on evaluating others she mentioned her apprehension when observing and grading a Ni-dan kata because she did not know that kata. It got me to thinking and I remember an old post on learning and practicing kata.

I firmly believe that if a person learns "one" kata thoroughly and completely until they "master" it then it does not matter whether they learn more or not but if they do venture into more kata the time to learn additional kata is almost non-existent. Why? Well, as we have discovered there are fundamentals to all martial systems that cross all styles, etc. In learning this one kata if they learn and apply all the fundamental principles of martial systems then it matters not the style because implementing those principles will be instinctive and  natural.

So, what I am saying is this. If you have taken the time and effort to truly learn, I mean really learn, one kata you can learn them all in short order and simply apply the principles. Now, as to other systems/styles, the only caveat is that those unique systems still incorporate the fundamental principles yet they do "move" differently and they apply techniques differently but still; know that one kata, truly know that one kata.

Americans get caught up in the quantity of kata and styles and systems with out this fundamental principles as well as the unique system/style movement and applications and if they actually focused on their system and really know and understand it all in that one kata then all the others would become more accessible; I mean really accessible and not just window dressing to spruce up a resume.

As to SueC, as long as she knows and understands the fundamental principles behind martial systems then she can truly judge and evaluate a person of higher grade for kata, basics, self-defense, and kumite, etc. because she would look for the fundamental principles which, of course, is what every judge/evaluator should be seeing.

I wish to thank Steven J. Pearlman for the book "Book of Martial Power" that explains the fundamental principles for putting a name and explanation for those that were or are unconsciously known brings them up in the light where proper considerations can be applied and implemented into teaching martial systems. He, Rory Miller, Marc MacYoung and a few others have succinctly worded aspects of training and practice that provide fundamental material for novices and experts alike. The benefits of the Internet, Books, and other media!

Make sense? Yes? No? Maybe? Comments?

p.s. I would prefer someone of Sue's level provide evals of my karate because she/they have a fresh look and tend to NOT get caught up in personal preferences which should be a reminder to those of us who have been doing this a while that nothing is set in stone and we must remain open to any and all possibilities. Reminding us of what is important so we don't accidentally get lost in our own is important to instruct/teach/mentor karate-ka; martial artists!

Oh, Oh, another good question, when competing in kata at tournaments do the judges determine scores on "pretty and dramatic" or on "fundamental principles, proficiency, and competence?"

Self-Defense - Outside the Box

 If you read this blog you are already aware that I have posted on self-defense using many sources such as:

Miller, Rory. "Facing Violence: Preparing for the Unexpected." YMAA Publications. New Hampshire. 2011.

Miller, Rory. Meditations on Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training & Real World Violence. YMAA Publications. 2008

Sutrisno, Tristan, MacYoung, Marc and Gordon, Dianna. "Becoming a Complete Martial Artist: Error Detection in Self Defense and the Martial Arts." Lyons Press. Connecticut. 2005.

MacYoung, Marc. No Nonsense Self Defense: http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/

MacYoung, Marc and Miller, Rory. Conflict Communications: http://www.conflictcommunications.com/index.htm
Otto, Frandon. Use of Force: http://www.useofforce.us/

MacYoung, Marc. "A Professional's Guide to Ending Violence Quickly: How Bouncers, Bodyguards, and Other Security Professionals Handle Ugly Situations." Paladin Press. Boulder, Colorado. 1996.

MacYoung, Marc. "Violence, Blunders, and Fractured Jaws: Advanced Awareness Techniques and Street Etiquette." Paladin Press. Boulder, Colorado. 1992.

Chiron Blog by Rory Miller: http://chirontraining.blogspot.com/

So, if asked for a definition of self-defense you will in all probability come out with legal and ethical ramifications of violence, how to avoid-deescalate, etc., and other martial specifics if you have to get into a fight.

So, now I am going to ask you to step outside that box. All this stuff you read here and are, if your a go-getter, studying outside here and your training facility you will now know that it benefits your every day life.

How, here is an example:

Your walking down the street with ear devices inserted and your eyes are on the iPod screen choosing the music you want to hear as you go about your business. You step off the sidewalk but guess what? There is also another person blowing through the intersection with ear devices in his/her ears, eyes on the screen choosing the music and "Blam!"

You just got catapulted about 100 feet down that road. The guy/gal driving feels the impact but is still frozen on what they are doing even tho their eyes are up and trying to determine just went wrong. While the drivers brain is trying to determine what happened then if lucky trying to figure out some action to take the mind may decide but the body remained frozen because there is no past experience in this. So, you get run over before  the driver slams on the brakes.

Now, both you and the driver, are dealing with a log of pain, physical for you and psychological for him/her. If you live you will have a bunch of hospital and rehab bills and other stuff to work with while taking the driver to court to sue, etc. and the driver is taking you to court to sue for mental distress, etc. because they insist if you had been paying attention it could have been avoided, and yadda yadda yadda.

Foreknowledge and training could have prevented all of this and this is still self-defense. What kind you say? Well, consider that self-defense is actually what you do to prevent harm, any harm, all harm, and yes harm goes way beyond the fight and violence as if a predator/criminal attacks you and so on.

Think and act outside the box, self-defense means a whole lot more than merely taking classes to learn techniques to fight. In our inclination to embrace technology to its fullest we may be opening ourselves to harm. It may be obvious and it may not so how would you could you tell? Awareness, mindfulness, and ... ?

Post inspired by Rory Miller's book, Facing Violence!

Bibliography:
Miller, Rory. "Facing Violence: Preparing for the Unexpected." YMAA Publications. New Hampshire. 2011. 

Self-Confidence vs. Self-Competence

Whoa boy, when I read these few paragraphs in "Facing Violence" by Rory Miller, chapter five on the freeze, it rang a bell so loud I had to do this short post on self-confidence vs. self-competence.

Martial artists tend to instill a false sense of competence regarding self-defense, fighting, and/or violence. As a formal karate instructor who, at that time, felt he was teaching a good self-defense program came to find that I also instilled a false sense of self-confidence and by osmosis was instilling a false sense of self-competence.

We as martial artists also tend to promote self-confidence as a benefit of training and practice but seldom speak up or teach consciously self-competence. To me that means before instructing/teaching actual self-defense techniques. The training of the mind must first promote self-competence, especially regarding self-defense, fighting, and/or violence along after the other mental training to get here, so that self-confidence will support competence when the shit hits the fan and then the brain will actually use that new blueprint, as Mr. Miller's makes reference to, to "act" and get past that momentary and initial freeze.

At least this is what I see as a true fundamental principle of self-defense, etc. and find it truly beneficial to now "see" this vs. not "seeing" this from reading his new book.

I guess this is another reason why it is always a good idea to read, read, read then experience, experience, experience it and then train, train, train.

Self-competence-to-self-confidence-to-self-competence-to-self-confidence!

Bibliography:
Miller, Rory. "Facing Violence: Preparing for the Unexpected." YMAA Publications. New Hampshire. 2011.

A Story of Okinawa - Long Life

Hi, All: We who study karate-do owe our thanks to the people of Okinawa. In that light I wanted to pass along a really nice video on YouTube that tells us a bit about Okinawa, its people, a bit about karate, and how they live so long; longer than any other in the world.

The link will direct you to the video. It didn't have embed code.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e74WBuk30A

Words - Articulating with Effective Meaning

Semantics, definitions, meaning in structure of words, and may others are used all the time to clarify, validate, understand, and learn about the martial arts. We can actually experience email flames where folks will argue adamantly about the meaning of some particular in the systems yet we don't actually attach any more importance to this than its liberality.

I want to point out that the practice of instruction/teaching requires a modicum of explanation, both verbal and written. Verbal/written information if not formed properly with correct verbiage, etc. convey a meaning that may or may not be the intent in the mind of the speaker/writer.

First, remember that everything we do, say or write in practice has meaning. It teaches us something if we are aware/mindful of what is said, written, or demonstrated. If there is a disconnect in these aspects of instruction/teaching then misunderstandings and misconceptions can and do occur.

Why all this rhetoric? Because we may be missing a very, very important outcome of this type of practice. The "articulation of self-defense!" [quote is from Rory Miller]

Mr. Miller as well as others like Mr. MacYoung will explain that your ability to articulate your reasoning in claiming "self-defense" is critical/crucial to your either winning or losing; your guilty or innocence; your ability to come out ok in both criminal and civil court.

Think about it every time you say or write something especially in regards to your teaching/instructing in self-defense. Ask yourself, do you provide this in your self-defense instruction? If not, consider adding it.

If you want the courts to understand your actions as self-defense and/or your non-liability in self-defense then how you articulate that is critical/crucial.

Tester, Evaluator, Judge, Referee ...

Suc C. of the blog, "Countdown to Shodan and My Journey to Black Belt," posted today about her first time participation in evaluating or judging students in kata, etc. It reminded me of the short time I was a member of the OKRA or Okinawa Karate Referee Association. It reminded me that although my personal feelings about karate as a sport aside it was a period that taught me a lot about teaching/instructing.

You need to remain very present or in the moment for the entire time your viewing and evaluating someone in karate. Basic's, Kata, Drills, Kumite, etc. require us as Sensei and black belts to be in the present moment and totally mindful of what is occurring and what all the practitioners are doing at every moment. It occurred to me that it becomes critical if teaching very young adults.

The traits developed in these disciplines also translate to being the dojo Dai-Sempai, Sempai, Sensei, etc. because the contribute to good instruction. One hallmark Sue C. displayed was her remaining very positive while being true to herself and her system in not being swayed one way or another in scoring, etc.

Hallmarks of a good black belt and a good evaluator and a good Sensei, just to name a few things.

Powerful Kata

A blogger made this statement, "When I observe a strong kata, I think: I really would not want to get hit by that person." It made me ask, "how can one observer power in a kata?" The following is my possible answer(s):

How can you observe a strong kata? What constitutes an outward manifestation of what is called a "strong kata?" An interesting question because I wonder if the person is looking for so called telltale signs of power. Isn't it reality that true power manifests itself as "not powerful looking" if applied correctly?

In The Book of Martial Power is is quoted as, "The Power Paradox." Defined in the book as, "true power feels, and actually should be, effortless AND that which feels like powerful exertion is not." Does this mean that one should not or cannot actually observe a strong kata?

Or, maybe looking at it another way is that the person who said he liked to observer a strong kata as in the quote means that his observation does NOT detect what is normally thought of as power or powerful kata.

Maybe they meant that if the kata is strong it merely displays good stances, good stance transition; applied techniques as appropriate with momentum, speed and power; maybe observing powerful kata is the observation of good posture, body alignment, economy of motion, structure. If this is what was meant then yes, I would not want to be on the receiving end of that karate-ka if they were going to hit me.

Bibliography:
Perlman, Steven J. "The Book of Martial Power: The Universal Guide to the Combative Arts." New York. The Overlook Press. 2006.

Judgement - more

Then there is "judgement" we seek from others, i.e. Sensei and the many organizations that may or may not govern the dojo practices. It seems that we as humans are always seeking some sort of approval to belong to a particular tribe which means those who have a higher position within all of these is going to be judging us as individuals. How strong is our need to belong determines the length one will go to achieve that approval through what ever criteria used to judge us for acceptance or rejection.

If our need is stronger than our desire to achieve a specified proficiency where the goals are adjusted to meet those needs then it may mean we are sacrificing much for judgements that accept us and our level or grades, etdfc. Then we have to decide if those sacrifices are worth it and the end result of our practice as judged by others is enough to reach our goals.

This brings up the goals. We must judge for ourselves if our goals are to meet the standards and practices of a true and complete traditional martial system or if we can live with the goals being dictated by others and their personally influenced criteria as to what constitutes proficiency and grading.

More importantly, from my view, is the self. We must try to achieve a level of knowledge and understanding outside any other person or groups judgment and opinions, etc. so we may seek to judge ourselves with our own unique criteria. Where one might judge their abilities to fight by how many opponents they defeat vs. how well one practices, teaches, and applies the martial fundamental principles in life and social or anti-social encounters, etc.

As to judging this also require self-judgement as to what we will accept or not accept. Start here first then once you decide/judge what is most important for YOU then proceed and never compromise on your beliefs or goals. Allow yourself to "judge" new things and allow for change if YOU judge it useful and necessary but not just for change sake.

The moment you allow others to judge and influence what you do you relinquish control of self and allow others that control. When it goes bad you can blame no one but yourself for you allow this so retain your self and your control, it is your practice; it is your life. Then again I tend to philosophize, yes?

Judgement

How many of you martial arts instructors actually have training of "judgement" as a part of your self defense instruction? Rory Miller in an interview used this quote, "Martial Arts should train judgement in tandem with skills." [Note: quote might not be exact]

To me it is a training method of the mind where we learn to use good judgement "before" we utilize our skills. In his book, Facing Violence as well as Meditations on Violence" you can start to learn that knowledge that will influence your "judgement" hopefully before you use your skills.

In some circles, to my view anyway, such things as knowledge as ascribed in Rory's books as well as Marc MacYoung's, and other authors, is critical knowledge and in my view would influence the type of skills taught in self defense. Our mental attitudes and intent are also influenced by this knowledge. They both, Mr. Miller and Mr. MacYoung, tell us that these things can get us into or out of violent situations and our perspective is important which translate, for me anyway, to judgement.

Judgement to me becomes a fundamental to the martial systems with as much importance as "martial principles." Good solid judgement can go a long way to achieve avoidance of violence as well as the other levels after avoidance. Just my thoughts.

Yes? No? Maybe? Comments?

What you want vs. what you need ...

It is very easy to "choose" things you want yet it is one of the most difficult things you do when you "choose" to to things you "need" to do. There needs to be a balance of both what you want and what you need to have harmony of self. Sometimes you have to forgo "wants" to achieve something that requires you do something you "need" to do that is sometimes unpleasant and difficult.

Practice, long and hard and diligent and continuous and relevant, is something you "need" to do in order to be proficient. I am talking about that practice of martial arts toward combative defense of self, family, and others. Not sport, not martial exercise but those fundamental principles that build the basis of the entire martial system. None of these are glorified, fun (sometimes they actually are fun in a funny sort of way), or awe inspiring. They provide you what you "need" for your system to be effective and not what you "want" as in trophies, accolades, rank, etc.

You may want to be "constantly stimulated" but what you need may end up being "monotonous and repetitive." We all have choices and they are always ours and ours alone. You can choose to get what you want and bypass what you need but what you get will be less than what you may really want. Something worth having is worth paying a price and that price may be doing what you "need" vs. what you "want" yet you may find that taking on what you "need" even if not what you "want" will end up giving you something you may have not actually realized that you "wanted!"

Yes? No? Maybe? Comments?

Note: Is this why so many tend to seek out the short way to something vs. taking the time and effort to actually realize it with wants and needs achieved together. Quick fixes, quick ways to get in shape, quick ways to do this or that when it actually "needs" to be a slow and long process to achieve what is wanted.

I want to acquire adequate skills to provide for self defense and I need to study  all the complex topics that take me to that goal. I "want" self defense therefore I "must" also do what is difficult for I "need" the complexities to achieve that goal adequately, etc.

Correct vs. Incorrect - Traditional Practice

NOTICE: This is not to disparage all martial arts but those few who tend to fall into a category of not martial. If you take offense then "if the shoe fits ... "

I just wanted to present a graphic that explains why glossing over important features to get to the good stuff will end up as if the fundamental principles are not studied and learned.

Be Open to All

I guess it may seem to some Isshinryu practitioners who read this blog that lately I have taken to being very critical of it and of some of its leaders, etc. This is not true. I just firmly believe that if we do not question incongruities [dissimilarities] who do Isshinryu and its history a disservice. When you see or hear anything that does not exactly seem accurate/correct you MUST question it until it is resolved to everyone's satisfaction. This is especially important to practitioners as to themselves.

We do the system and ourselves a disservice if we don't seek out correctness and accuracy in what we practice and teach, with emphasis on teaching. I merely ask the question and then provide a view, a personal view or theory, of what it may actually be vs. what is perceived as it may actually be.

There are so many urban legends out there for the world of martial practice that it becomes very difficult separating truth from bullshit. I ask and provide theories so that those who may have correct "facts" with "verifications" to comment and set the record straight. As long as it remains simply theory with out substantiations then it remains questionable.

So, I will ask the difficult questions and hope that those who have substantiated responses that are easily verified will provide more than theory or their views much like I see from Sloane Sensei and AJA Sensei.

Shimabuku, Shinsho (Ciso) Sensei

I cruise the Internet all the time looking for any and all information regarding Isshinryu and those who spearheaded its growth, etc. In all my research I have come to understand that "almost all instruction" in Isshinryu to the "military connection, i.e. Marines," came from either a senior Marine or Ciso Sensei. Very few, very few military students actually received "hands-on" instruction from Tatsuo Sensei.

I have been led and it has been suggested that the majority of those who brought Isshinryu home in the late fifties and early sixties actually received ninety percent of instruction from Shimabuku, Shinsho (Ciso) Sensei.

It seems that such an influential person would be mentioned, at least in passing, on the many web sites, etc. as an intricate part of the growth of Isshinryu and its spread on Okinawa and on Military bases through out. Yet, except on AJA Sensei's web site, no one gives this man any credit what so ever as to the growth and spread of Isshinryu as well as instruction to us all.

Actually, I would have to say from my perspective it may be more of value to say one were the "first generation student of Shinsho Sensei" than to the founder Tatsuo Sensei. After all, Ciso Sensei, it would seem from my research at least, was actually the most influential instructor/Sensei in Isshinryu for American Servicemen.

I also believe "wholeheartedly" that Ciso Sensei has more historical significance for Isshinryu than Tatsuo Sensei first born Kichero. I have no knowledge if my Sensei ever received instruction from Ciso Sensei but do know that a few of the labeled "first gen students of Tatsuo Sensei" have been quoted as saying Ciso Sensei did provide a lot of mentoring/guidance in Isshinryu to Marines.

If I were to have been so lucky as to have been there when Ciso Sensei was instructing it would be an honor to have said that I was a first generation student of Ciso Sensei but alas neither Henry or I are able to express that as a part of our gratitude to him and his efforts in Isshinryu.

Thank you Tatsuo Sensei for developing Isshinryu and thank you Ciso Sensei for allowing all of us to benefit from your guidance and mentoring in the Isshinryu system. If I am correct it would not have been possible with out Shinsho (Ciso) Sensei's efforts.

First Generation Student - Military Connection

Click for Large View!

Questions come to mind when I hear someone speak of, "My Sensei is a student of the first generation student of the systems founder, Tatsuo Shimabuku!"

What is a first generation student?
What qualifies one to be a first generation student?
How did this term become so important to Isshinryu or the Karate world for that matter?
What actually constitutes/defines what is a first generation student?
What makes it so important?
What gives it such importance as to some perceived validation/qualification in the quality of teaching Isshinryu?

Some questions I have concerning this seemingly all important validating as some special status title or honor bestowed upon a few persons to designate some mystical qualification in teaching Tatsuo Sensei's system of empty hand combative stuff ... ?

Petty Officer 2nd Class Andy Sloane called me today all the way from Okinawa to talk Isshinryu. He is doing a huge amount of research on Isshinryu and one of those specific topics regards what Isshinryu circles call the "first generation" students of Tatsuo Shimabuku Sensei, founder of Isshinryu. I don't wish to trespass on his stuff so please note that this post is all mine but was influenced by the discussions we had today. Thanks Andy!

What is a first generation student? My view is this, a student/practitioner who received "hands on" training/instruction "directly" from Tatsuo Sensei. There are no rules as to how long that instruction is or was but I will put on a quantity requirement, me and not Andy or anyone else but me. I would say to qualify as a first generation student of Tatsuo Sensei a person must have received hands-on instruction from Tatsuo Sensei on a regular basis and for a period of time. Regular basis means to me at least once a week for approximately two hours. The two hours does not necessarily mean all two hours hands-on but a combination of hands-on and close observations by Sensei. The period of time is for a minimum of one month.

I say this because you can visit the dojo, take one class where Tatsuo Sensei may have provided some personal instruction and then go off and say your a first generation student of Tatsuo Sensei, the systems founder, which seems to have some significant meaning which I have yet to determine as if some standard is met and promoted.

Now, clarification, a first generation student to me is one who actually meets the above criteria, generally, but it has to be with the systems founder/creator. To be a first generation student of say, ... me ..., is not really relevant to anyone except maybe me and that student. To me the first question above is the criteria I suggest and it being under the direct tutelage of the systems master/founder/creator, all of these designations.

How did this term become so important? I have no clue. I guess Americans need validation and in gaining it they "one-up" one another to achieve a higher level of perceived/accepted validation as to some very special and somewhat mystical belief or source or authoritative designation. Like getting a rank certificate directly from him vs. me where a group perceives/believes that it has some special additional all powerful meaning and validation.

I had someone state in a dojo that I was a person who actually trained under the master on Okinawa. It puzzled me since I was there in 79 and Tatsuo Sensei died earlier that decade until I realized that they thought I trained under his son, Kichero Sensei. I quickly corrected them that I actually did not receive hands-on training but merely attended his dojo a few times until an incident occurred that caused me to stop coming. I remember three trips from Camp Hansen to the dojo till the incident; then Henry, my Sensei, and I quit coming down.

So, actually if you go with no qualifications other than taking a class then I can say I trained directly under Kichero Sensei on Okinawa. If I don't elaborate properly you can see how folks my misinterpret the actual quantity and quality of that training and may give me some special status due to it yet it warrants absolutely no real credence what so ever, nadda.

I am puzzled at the mystical value folks give to such an elusive honor/title, etc. as "first generation student of the master," with absolutely no proof, validation or definitions. At one time I also fell into this pedestal syndrome and tried to find any evidence that my Sensei, Henry, was a "first gen student of Tatsuo Sensei" but finally came to the conclusion he was not one and that provided me the understanding that it made no difference one way or the other. The true test and validation is the "quality" of the Sensei experience, knowledge, and ability to instruct a martial system, to make it work, that is the true test. In other words could he make it work in the training facility and more importantly on the street.

First generation student, the person who spent the most time with him, etc., what is the actual value and meaning of all this? A personal question I would gather and one that must be scrutinized as self-analysis of self worth one must make of themselves.

Yes? No? Maybe? Comments?

Note: Andy Sloane is, in my opinion, the "one" true source of the history of Isshinryu and the Military to train in it. He has taken the time and effort to not just find the stories but to validate them with facts, hard and indisputable facts. He has pissed off a few Isshinryu'ist and their tribes/factions but then again the truth when it refutes a belief tends to make the believers a bit testy. His efforts to take the stories of those early pioneers and add in the facts with fact checks and validations makes him an authority on the history of Isshinryu  and the military connection. I wait patiently for the day he publishes his material for it will be most illuminating. 

The House that Tatsuo Built!

Practice According to Anko Itosu Sensei by Kowankan Blogger

Mario McKenna Sensei's blog, Kowakan, has a nice piece of advice apparently written by Anko Itosu Sensei on practicing. Click the link and read his blog and this particular advice cause it, to me and my personal view, is true, oh so true. Once done then come here and read my redaction of the same quotes as I have taken liberties to correct some small parts I felt needed clarification cause the parts were not as accurate as to explanations as I would like.

"It goes without saying that if you want to improve your karate then you must practice consistently. What I mean by practice is not practice in the dojo, but practice outside the dojo. If you do not practice outside of the dojo you will not make any real progress. It’s that simple. You simply cannot build the mental focus or perform the number repetitions that build neural networks the control the muscle response by only practicing twice or three times a week.

You need to consider the length of practice. In my opinion, don’t bother with practices less than 1 hour. When I see a teacher doing that, I think s/he should change the name from dojo to fitness club. Why the big deal about time? Simple, the mind, those neural networks/pathways, cannot be settled deeply, embedded, into practice in less than an hour and therefore no insight or discoveries are made. If you think it’s just my opinion, think again. It was Anko Itosu who said that you needed to practice daily for at least an hour or two."

Bibliography:
McKenna, Mario. "Don't Bother."Bechurin - May 13, 201. Kowakan: Traditional Okinawa Karatedo & Ryukyu Kobudo Blog

Minimalism in Karate-Do

If you have read about the martial principles of power then you are aware that in martial applications one should try to achieve "economical motion." Minimalism in martial systems is a good thing.

Minimalism in martial arts is a bad thing. How can I say it is good then turn right around and say it is bad? Easy, take a different perspective. In the bad side I am referring to those whose goals are more simplistic, i.e. I just want to get a black belt type goal.

They become so focused on that goal they tend to minimize their practice down to what they "have to achieve/do" in order to qualify and pass the test to gain a black belt. Getting caught up in this view diminishes the black belt and promotes a more school syllabus type environment where one expects to attend a class, just like a math class requirement, receive set criteria, i.e. like chapters in the math book each week, and finally a test at the end of the class to get a passing grade which ends up with some diploma or a certificate of completion, etc.

If we focus on learning fundamentals, learning martial principles and then training to achieve all those goals within them, i.e. fundamentals-n-principles etc., then we achieve black belt with out minimalistic of value in what black belt means or should mean. Minimize your motion, make it as economical as possible to apply the principle along with all principles, a far better goal don't you think?

See the Forrest in lieu of just the leaf. How many have you heard state, "I have to learn five techniques, three kata, and one weapon kata to earn this level/grade/rank." Forget the amount of what is perceived as the goal but the quality of the practice and training as the goal. Simplistic answer to a complex question?

Yes? No? Maybe? Comment?

Facing Violence - New Book - Great Start/Highly Recommended

I have made some hopefully decent recommendations. I am stretching myself a bit because this recommendation comes from ONLY reading the INTRO only.

I just received my copy of Rory Miller's new book, "Facing Violence." He has taken all the complexities and plethora of information and put a fundamental version in this book.

When I first started to study the materials from Marc MacYoung's No Nonsense Self Defense site I found it so complete it boggled the mind yet felt for most who have not dedicated their time and efforts toward defense and martial arts it would be "overwhelming" leaving most novices unable to sort it out and allow it to soak in to their minds.

Rory Miller has taken all his experience, his expertise, and all he has gained from a lot of area's to include the complex area of self defense and provide us a concise and terse version that clarifies it to a manner that inspires additional research and study.

It provides a foundation for the novice and the experienced martial artist, to name just two forms/systems, and provides a fundamental "guide book" to build on current knowledge and ability as well as give the novice a point of reference BEFORE taking that self defense system.

Guess I am running on about it yet I find it of value and wanted to express my enthusiasm for his new book. Now that he has this one and "Meditations of Violence" available one only has to add in Marc MacYoung's books to really build the library of reference for a difficult, complex, convoluted and dangerous world of martial arts, self defense, and so on.

This book can be the cornerstone to self defense!

Take Time to Analyze

One of the reasons I like the book on martial power as well as others. They provide you perspective. They provide you the means to "analyze" your practice to determine its validity in application.

Look at it as the martial arts "urban legends" check point. A way to weed out "bullshit" from "fact." I guess what I am trying so hard to explain is when you ask a question, get an answer, sometimes it "seems" plausible but under closer scrutiny you find it does not hold water, the glass is leaking all over the place.

Here is an example, a person asks why the ends of the obi are as long as they are so you hear the answer that it provides a focal point on how well you are moving. If it sways to much your moving to much so the idea is to move in such a manner as to keep the ends from moving but a small amount. Now, that sounds on the surface as if it might be plausible but upon scrutiny it fails to hold water.

Another is the one I just posted on as to supporting the back, giving a physical reminder of where jodan and gedan start, etc. when you attain your black belt. Not, another urban legend. How do these things get started?

Well, my theory [knew I was going to say that right], a black belt who didn't know the answer so kind of extrapolated it from what they "feel" it might do. For some reason, which I could also theorize about, the male species seems to have a need to give some answer even if not totally accurate or relevant in lieu of just saying, "I don't know, but, will find out!"

As I started, the books that provide perspective outside your current experience sometimes open that door a bit wider and provide you actual and relevant information to explain with clarity what it is your doing. I can say the martial power book turned on a lot of lights as to things I could do but just could not find the right way to explain it, I just knew it worked. Then there is a lot that I just didn't know or realize so it gave me a treasure trove of information that turned on more lights.

When I read, hear, view something that seems to make sense and seems relevant I take time now to try and "analyze it" so I can make sure it is not just another urban legend or some "fill-in" for a lack of knowledge or simply a lack of understanding. I ask myself that in the beginning why did I jump into instructing since it is now apparent that I totally lacked adequate tools and knowledge to teach. Sigh, guess I was lucky to discover and find more as I went along, a learning/lesson in and of itself I guess.

My suggestion is all information needs to be vetted, analyze it so it is validated and truth and accurate and valid for practice and training. It might mean your health and well-being, i.e. either good or not so good when some clown jumps you and cleans your clock.

Musashi - Physical then Philosophical

If you can believe what is written about the "sword saint" it is obvious that we Americans and Musashi did the same exact thing. We began with the fascination of the physical side long before we took up any philosophical aspects. I have to admit when I began my preference was learning to "kick butt" was a lot higher than any spiritual or philosophical journeys.

Maybe this has something to do with male growth to maturity. After all my focus to the more philosophical side, i.e. ken-po goku-i and I Ching, etc., really didn't fully flower until these last ten years or so.

Musashi didn't start to actually philosophize and write the book of five rings until he proved himself and fought those battles if historically correct, i.e. the stories that is.

So, we should not expect today's martial artist, young ones, to even consider the philosophical side because they, like Musashi, are focused on fighting and winning even it not actually combat but sport, the brain still thinks its the same even if the conscious side knows better.

Yes? No? Maybe? Comments?

Facing Violence - New Book

If you have read, "Meditations on Violence," by Rory Miller then you will want to order his next book, "Facing Violence." It is ready on Amazon HERE.

I have my copy coming in the mail as we write ... just wanted to pass this along.

Emotion and Story Connection

I have come to realize that when emotions kick in be it anger, fear, resentment, etc. that those emotions, all natural and all transitory, it is not the emotions that do the damage but the "stories" we tend to connect to them that create damage. The emotions govern the body and mind so we can handle the causes and provide results best fitted to our health and well-being YET when we allow our minds, the monkey brain, to add it all kinds of unsubstantiated and fictional based stories we exacerbate the emotions keeping the running on high speed instead of letting them naturally come, reach a peak, and then go away.

Some guy cuts you off taking an off ramp, you are startled, fear of an accident emotions kicks into high speed. If you just experience the emotion of fear and allow it to die out on its own then you can feel relief and move on but most of us allow the monkey brain to kick in so stories start up like, "that asshole, he almost killed me, I could just ram his back end and then get out and stomp his ass to kingdom come ..." and it doesn't just stop there cause those words inflame your anger emotion which the statement triggered as an add on the fear, fear at its height plus the story shifts it to anger, at its height and then keeps it up and high since one story leads to another story and so on. The story drives us, the monkey brain, if we allow it, drives our emotions to remain in high gear.

Look at it like getting in your car, turn it on, then depress the accelerator, out of gear of course, until the engine revolutions reach maximum and then hold it there. Very soon that level of stress and strain will cause something to give. In humans it can be health effects or it can as to emotions lead anger to intent to posturing to actual actions that will lead you to more ... the story/monkey drives that train and it is full speed ahead until it hits a wall. What needs to occur is for you, the person in the monkey's passenger seat, to stop it before the train becomes a run-a-way train.

The story is the true culprit to all conflict. Mindfulness, recognize the emotion and the story. Don't try to kill or stop the emotion. If you do the effects are just as devastating. Simply name it, let it come, and then let it go. When you see or recognize the start of a story, stop and keep stopping BEFORE it gets its hooks in and drags you down a very bad path.

I came across a very bad situation this Sunday. I felt the anger, my body felt it, my actions began the suddenly I took a deep breathe and realized it, let the anger be experienced and then suddenly felt it was gone - all with out letting one word of any story intervene. It allowed me to regain control of self an then allow the other to run the gamut of anger and stories not contributing to it and allowing my seeming calm affect the other person. It worked and deescalated what in the past usually turns into an all day anger fest into a few minutes of discomfort.

It works, it requires practice, practice, practice, yet IT WORKS!

Character

Do we truly practice with character.  When I say character do I mean ... the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual where strength and originality are a part of that person's nature; a person of good reputation and then you have to go on and define what that means to that individual, to others, to the tribe and finally to society as a whole, i.e. what is acceptable and what is not that governs a person of character.

How do we go about that in the martial arts? It comes back, to me, about the "code." What code? Some would gravitate to the code of bushido, some to the ken-po goku-i as if that were a code and some would create their own code which could be "good" or "not so good." It all depends doesn't it.

To me the "character" of a martial artist is the Yin of the Yin and Yang in karate. Yang being the strictly physical applications. You should develop both simultaneously to become well rounded or a martial artists of character.

I have posted recently as to what code I would strive to meet or live by but to recap: An American Code of Honor for MA!

The Obi at the Hips - continued discussion

I remember that as a novice I moved my obi to a point that would support my back and to provide some indication of whether I was breathing correctly and feeling it down below the navel where the diaphragm could work in lieu of the chest breathing. I used this only for the time it took me to discover body alignment, proper posture, or in other words the fundamental of body mechanics and the body principles of the martial system.

Once there in the basics of the system I then removed the reminder to keep my mindfulness on using my body to do what is needed to make it and my system of martial practice focused on attaining and using all those martial principles to achieve my end goals.

Recently I read where someone said as a black belt you wear the obi down on the hips to support the back, to feel the hara what ever that means, to feel that your tensing the abdominal muscles [this one warrants thought cause I cannot understand needed to feel the muscles tensing which seems less effecient unless they were discussing at the moment of impact or something like it], and then they stated it was to remind you of where gedan started and chudan started [acutally what happened to jodan, i.e. gedan, chudan, jodan, i.e. lower, middle, upper area of body] etc.

It, the quote, reminded me that we tend to rely heavily on such things where we then become dependent on them when in reality we should have achieved self awareness and mindfulness of these things with out a belt or uniform or some other device to "remind us"  or to give us an "indication" of where things are. This is a tool that must be used only as a novice much like teaching the basic fundamental motions as a novice with the understanding and expectation that it MUST be removed so no dependencies remain. Tools like this are like the lines we used in grade school to learn how to form letters in writing. No one today would think of using those lines when writing a letter, etc.

As a black belt if you are not aware of or in need of were gedan/chudan start/stop or begin/end then maybe you need to re-evaluate that level of grade. If you need it to support your back go back to the fundamentals/principles of body dynamics/mechanics, etc. because that need of extra support indicates the person may not be properly aligned, etc..

Actually, if I am right, the point just two or so inches below the naval where we find the center cannot actually be positioned behind or against the knot, try it for real and you will find that if you fasten it properly it rises up a bit above the true center of the body. We all know that the "hara" is that midsection band of muscles that provide support and strength of the entire center but the center itself is within that hara area so the knot actually is being used to try and remind the novice of their center in approximation.

Yes? No? Maybe? Discussions?

p.s. a little humor now: now someone is going to tell me his Sensei said that the longer ends of the obi provide the black belt additional balance when moving or transitioning from kamae to kamae!

Don't Hide Behind Dogmatic Doctrine

Dogmatic: A principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true [a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative]. Doctrine: A belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group [a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative].

Isshinryu as followed in modern times seems to be caught up in this dogmatic doctrine that one must remain exact, true, and unwavering in the way the system is taught as thought derived from those original exacting instructions from Tatsuo Sensei. So much is barricaded from progress due to some nature to put the system so far up on a pedestal that in the end it results in stagnation.

Stagnation for both the practitioner and the system when the ken-po goku-i's teachings provide insight into the need to reach beyond the bare bones or fundamental teachings of a novice and allow for practitioners to reach up into the realm of expert and maybe even master.

This post will fly straight into the face of those who are stuck in the doctrine that had the best of intentions yet ended into a doctrine that is dogmatic, stifling, stagnating, and limiting. My personal search has led me to believe that for this system grow beyond the seed that remains requires a strong individual who will break away and find truth and understanding.

All the keys are in the ken-po goku-i and many, many other writings and teachings if one will just look over the wall erected by unintentional misunderstanding to "see" and "hear" all that is there for the taking.

Shinsa and the Events Encountered

Shinsa, I believe a term used to denote a "grade test" where it in my past has been used only for the initial black belt testing of practitioners. Yes, it is a grade test so it reflects all grade testing, i.e. kyu and dan, but I prefer to use it just for the Sho-dan/Yudansha grading.

Now, Shinsa to me does not necessarily mean a "test" but rather a "state" where one achieves a state of proficiency that results in the award of a black belt. It is  a transition point in the way of a martial system. A significant pivotal point in martial arts so it warrants a special place for both the individual and the dojo.

I have been asked, "How should I prepare and what should I do when I encounter events that are less than stellar?" Preparation is really in individual thing so I can only say that if you have reached this pivotal state then you already know what you need to do. When I discuss events that are less than the person is capable of in the shinsa, i.e. that date where the dojo brings the entire past of the practitioner into that one moment of truth, theirs and not anyone else's, then I tell them if they encounter that event just let the moment drift past just as quickly as the technique or what ever is done.

As an example if doing a kata and you miss something, skip something, turn the wrong way, etc. just keep going. Do not stop, do not start over again, do not apologize, do not make excuses ... don't attach any story to it, experience it in only that exact moment and move on as if nothing happened. Remember ... if this were a real life encounter you can't stop and correct any mistakes, errors, or omissions; to late. If you just continue on to the next thing, that next thing may save your bacon. Shinsa is a better place to display this trait than in combat.

So, go from moment to moment in the shinsa. Do not let your mind, your monkey brain, go to the past or the future or to any stories of oh shit I made a mistake. Keep the monkey in its cage and just experience each moment for that moment only and keep the moments moving. Remember, everything comes and goes, everything is on its way somewhere and once it leaves the present moment it is gone and best forgotten.

Shinsa is your moment, your state of change, change is inevitable and you can embrace it or let the monkey take it away. The choice is yours, always has been and always will be, embrace it for what it is, your moment to achieve the stars. I was given a quote once I like. Don't just reach for the moon, go for the stars!

The Karate-gi and Obi: Wearing them, etc.

This is pretty close to what is traditional, click for large view.

Recently I read a post that caused me to ask myself the question, "What is the proper way to wear the obi?" Historical note of posts here, I have posted in the past about the karate-gi and the obi but did not actually express my view of how it is worn.

Sue of the "My Journey to Black Belt" blog posted on "Karate Belt Issues" that prompted me to consider the subject of the karate-gi which includes the obi as to what is considered the most acceptable way to wear them, care for them, and such mundane things a new practitioner may wonder about when starting on the path to karate-do, or any martial practice.

Some things that irritate me a bit when in the dojo, mine or others. Wrinkled uniforms, sleeves to short or to long, pant legs to short or to long, a belt that is extremely worn and frayed, a belt that has ends that are way to long and hang down to far when worn, belt ends that are so glaringly long they hang down seemingly to the floor, patches-patches-patches, incorrectly tied knot [a big one for me], other additions or what could be called "flare" that have nothing to do with karate-do, etc. and on and on ...

Now, here is my view on the subject. Dojo should have a minimum standard on what type of uniform is used and how it is worn and lets not forget as to how one should care for it, transport it to and from the dojo, and cleaning it properly.

First, the jacket. The sleeves should be between about three inches below the elbow but not longer than the wrist area of the arm. Second, it should be the version that relies on closing the jacket left side over the top of the right and the set of cords at the hips must be tied adequately to prevent them from loosening up in practice. Older more traditional style of karate-gi actually had a tie at the upper chest level used to hold the jacket closed.

There are cultural reasons for the jacket ties and the fold of left side over the right but that is an old post of mine worth learning about if you feel your practice should be of a traditional nature.

The pants, the length of the legs should be no shorter than the mid shin to the ankle. The length of the legs, and the jacket sleeves, has a point to it as well.

In general my practice uses a more "traditional" uniform or karate-gi much like described and as seen to the left in the graphic. I want to express that what I propose here is my view of my practice and when I instructed it was what I asked my practitioners to wear, if they wanted to [I usually asked this if they desired to wear a uniform otherwise I only asked for loose clothing, i.e. sweats of similar and conservative athletic wear.]

Karate-do in my view is a serious path that warrants a modicum of respect and a traditional conservative view in practice, etc.

The BELT or OBI:

There are standard lengths that are sold according to a persons sizing. In my case I wear a size five karate-gi and obi. I find that the standard lengths are not always a good fit. Even if you find size 5 a bit long you may find a size 4 way to short. In my case, example, I get a five and then adjust it manually to fit at a good and what I see as a proper length. I cut of one end and then use some of the material to fold in to the cut area to make sure it is one solid color, i.e. the white underneath is obvious if not covered, and then use a same color thread to close it properly and keep it neat in appearance.

I do not wash it and bleach it to make it look cool, i.e. faded, and I do not drag it behind a vehicle to get it frayed looking either. That is crap that ego uses to look like a person has experience and longevity. It is also perceived as "cool," as well as many other descriptive views.

The belt is used for two things. One is for a large class type teaching environment so Sensei can readily see where a person is as to the level of knowledge, experience, and proficiency. The other is to hold your jacket closed and keep it as neat as possible during practice, i.e. a decorum thing. It is worn around the "waist." It is NOT worn around the hips. It is not loose so the knot and ends hang down from the hips in a "cool looking" way [can not describe this well enough but it is representative of someone who is wanting to stroke the ego and tell every one he/she is cool and wants it to look cool and acceptable to others views and such stuff ...]

If you wear an obi then the very first thing you learned was how to tie the knot properly yet I see again and again, both novice and yudansha, who still cannot tie a knot well or just don't care and also have varying lengths and ends, etc. To me its like showing up for a job interview in your sweat pants and t-shirt with a stubble on your face where you sit down, lean back, and take a cocky guy pose with a cocky guy attitude; you ain't getting hired dude VS coming to a interview in a suit with polished shoes pressed and clean, clean shaven and you sit tall with respect and proper assertive posture, etc.

All of this does have a purpose in the practice of karate-do and all martial systems even if not apparent to a novice or one who "thinks" they are a master but just don't know so don't take it all for granted.

Now, all this is in regards to "budo" as I perceive it and to "traditional/traditions" of the system be it Aikido, Judo, or Karate-do. To me it speaks volumes of character of the individual and by osmosis the dojo, the other practitioners and the Sensei. If you don't think what you wear, how you wear it and the presence it projects is not valuable or noticeable from others you just are not getting it.

If you wear a good and properly fitted uniform. If you wear it properly. If you keep it cleaned and pressed, somewhat, and the belt is clean and in good condition [when it wears, frays, fades then put it in a box-frame, put it on your wall for posterity if a belt given to you with special meaning, and get a new clean presentable belt for training, practice and instruction/teaching.

Oh yea, for the length of the ends that hang down, in my view it should not extend when hanging naturally after tying the knot "no more than between 6 and 8 inches which brings it down to slightly past the groin area on each side and they should be as close to even as possible with no more than one inch variance maximum. Attention to details and a pension and ability to see and do things in detail just to name one thing of importance in taking this view.

Yes, it does come from a bit of the military way but even those who are Okinawan traditional practitioners today tend to pay attention to such things and you will note that they do wear a clean, orderly and properly tied belt and uniform. Gotta say it, it is mostly American's who tend to go more for flare.

My uniform is a white traditional cut one with only a red kanji for Isshinryu on the left side of the jacket. It is a summer weight canvas type and the sleeves are at the shorter end of the specifications I present here. I have a special custom obi that is all white with some special markings that is worn on special occasions but in general I wear a all white belt or all black belt as appropriate to the occasion of wearing.

Belief vs. Skill or is it Belief+Skill

Today I read a post that turned on another light in a very dark room. It was not because I don't know this but that it actually pointed out a big, my theory again, gapping hole in martial art instruction and training and practice.

It also opened the door wider to an understanding that acquiring knowledge is one very important step in many that lead to proficiency of MA for defensive intent. If you don't know about something odds are you not going to filter out the crap from the gold or the water-n-sand from the gold dust. I wanted, always have, the gold dust yet find today I had to travel through a lot of water and dirt to even learn of the gold's presence.

If you don't know that really gold colored, somewhat for gold is not really a gold color until the impurities are taken out of it; another esoteric point for another post, stuff at the bottom of you pan is valuable you most likely going to dump it out with the dirt and water as you pan for gold. Funny analogy huh?

Marc MacYoung when posting on a topic of fear and other sundries mentioned a maxim of "belief vs. skill." I feel/think he was trying to say that in today's MA training one tends to achieve a belief that tells them a story that makes them feel safe, secure, and comfortable. I can because of my training handle any and all threats and I will have no fear because my Sensei taught me how to be a killer martial artists type belief. But, will it equate to those skills necessary to deal with all that comes with violent encounters?

You fall into a false sense of proficiency in regards to violence that what you did in the dojo all those years will take care of your fear and your attackers. It is also a statement as to the type of training, etc. where a lot is not the type of realistic training scenario's that will provide you what you need when you get there, you know, that violent person ready to take your head off for looking at him the way you did.

It is once again to me like saying this or that technique will handle this or that attack which is just a single technique nor even proven effective in real live attacks. It is the belief that this set of supposed self defense techniques will do it but are not really the "skills" necessary to actually do it. Skip over the psychological issues and those physical adrenaline ones and expect those techniques taught in a very controlled environment to boost your "belief" that you are dangerous and safe while your attacker beats your brains out while your still trying to utilize that one technique you learned years ago but felt due to the belief you acquired it would still be there for you vs. a skill set that requires continued practice to keep it viable and available and hoping it will work this time for this moment for this incident.

Belief may mean one who relies on the system to do it for them while skill is where one achieves that which does it for themselves. Maybe belief is external or let someone/something else deal with that for me or skill which is internal or assuming full and complete responsibility for dealing with that yourself.

Maybe it is actually both, the belief that your system does what it is supposed to do; your belief that it does what it does and the skill to do what you have to do. Two sides to one coin, yin (belief)-Yang (skill).

Do I have it right? Yes? No? Maybe? Comments?

Let me quote Marc:

"a popular training myth -- especially for people who deal with their fears via training alone. Such a myth believes that the quality of the training is so awesome you can just casually stroll over the canyon on this completed bridge. Or drive across in the comfort and ease of your car. That's because the system is so good that, just by knowing it, you are a super-stud --at least that's what they'll tell you.

That is what a lot of people believe, too. As long as you never step outside the safety of the Internet, the training hall or the sports ring, you CAN believe this.

In those places, you never have to make it all the way across the canyon. Therefore, the missing pieces are easily ignored or replaced by ersatz substitutes. Substitutes that are emotionally intense, but not necessarily specific to the task itself.

For example, I know of an MA school where, as part of the black belt test, serial sparring occurs. For one minute each round, the candidate spars with one of five black belts. The official reason given for this action is it helps develop one of the tenets of the system (indomitable spirit). In that regard, yes it is a means to challenge the tester to push him- or herself.  Unofficially though, I encountered the attitude from several black belts that -- because they'd done this -- they were confident they could take on multiple opponents. Seriously, they really believed that. A belief that had no basis in reality because they had no idea of the tactics that work against multiple attackers. A belief that I pray will never be put to the test. But a belief they can maintain and hold in the comfort and safety of the dojo environment.

Now one can argue that it is this 'belief 'that people are seeking and not the actual skills. A belief  to soothe their fears. But fears are not the same thing as actual dangers. Again, as was pointed out by Rory, but I ran with the idea. There's a big difference between fear management and danger management:

http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/FEARvsDANGER.html " [good source; from no nonsense self defense site run by Mr. MacYoung]

Source of excerpt:

date: Mon, May 2, 2011 at 10:01 PM
subject: AL: SD: The Last Length of Bridge
From: "Marc MacYoung"
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 12:16 PM
Animal ListMail

Art of Avoidance - Layers upon Layers

It might be good to try and convey what I feel is necessary to achieve the best and most effective self-defense posture every, "Avoidance!" So, I felt a short post to convey that idea so maybe someone can use it to discover their own personal self-defense avoidance system. If you follow the various posts on the Internet blogs, etc. you will understand the complexities of entering into violent behavior so therefore find that the only true way is to avoid it at all costs, this is why I am doing this post - Avoidance is the superior self-defense system ever.

Self-Analysis: The first layer to the "Art of Avoidance." Your life choices, do you find that your time is spent where you either encounter or witness violent behavior? Where you live, how you live, who you associate with or socialize with, how you play or socialize, where you work, the routes you take to work and going home, where you go and travel to do everyday life tasks, etc. All these will tell you, if you are brutally honest with yourself and determine the level of activity that exposes you to violence or violent environments, etc. will tell you if you even need to seek out the Art of Avoidance, i.e. self-defense instruction.

In your self-analysis the most important personal trait you can have is "honesty." That is total and unequivocal truth of who and what you are, etc. The ability to open all the protective layers you have acquired in life to see the true and completely bare exposed self. the naked self where nothing is hidden for to not see self completely and honestly can hide those things that lead to conflict and conflict leads to violence, etc.

Ask your "self:"

1. Are you willing to die for what you believe?
2. Are you willing to kill for what you believe?
3. Are you willing to sacrifice your family for what you believe?
4. Are you willing to sacrifice your financial security for what you believe?
5. Are you willing to sacrifice the family and financial security of the person your encountering?
6. Are you willing to sacrifice your mental and physical health and well-being for what you believe?

These are just "some of the questions" that you should ask your "self" about and the concerns you should consider if you decide to go past the Art of Avoidance and go right into violent behavior no matter the excuse or reason you believe justifies it.

Academia - Knowledge: The second layer of the "Art of Avoidance." Can you recognize violence, violent behavior, area's where violence is likely, what are traits of violence and violent people, what is predatory violence, what comprises self-defense what are the repercussions of self-defense/violence/violent people, what is the path that leads someone to violence, etc. If you cannot answer such questions then start here because if your brain/mind/spirit does not know these things you will fail at avoiding them. The brain and mind can only reference what is encoded in the memory so if it is not there ... ?

Do you know what kind of behaviors, yours, that will get you into violent encounters and situations? Are your communications skills viable to deal with the various personalties that make up people who tend to do violence/violent things?

The knowledge base must be one that not only encodes that information accurately in your brain but must be trained and practiced daily in life and in the training facility. If that does not occur then you need to find it and get there.

Practice-Training: The third layer of the "Art of Avoidance." Do you or does your training facility actually teach the fundamentals/principles that provide what is necessary to avoid conflict. It it or they cannot answer let alone provide for any and all of the first two layers then seek it elsewhere.

Realistic training scenario's must be conducive to utilizing all the first two layers into action. Knowing something does not necessarily equate to the mind/brain actually retrieving it as viable in avoiding attacks. Utilizing the ability to discover and recognize actual signs or the instinctual alarms is not as easy as reading about it in a post.

The Art of Avoidance: This is the layer where the rubber meets the road. These are some of the things you must utilize and utilize frequently to achieve a good solid foundation of avoidance.

It is easier to start by providing zones that move away from the center, i.e. referred to in martial principles as "centrifugal." Then we will try to cover when danger or violent traits/behaviors/environmental stuff starts to penetrate that outer zone coming toward you, i.e. referred to in martial principles as "centripetal." [Note: I am taking some liberties with Stephen J. Pearlman's book of martial power.]

Your closest zone is what I call the exclusion zone. This is the moment a person or person's actually enter a range where either of you can actually attack physically with strikes, kicks, etc. This is called the exclusion zone because your goal here is to keep any and all folks who are intent on violence or violent intent from gaining access to your body. Here is where your martial training, if combative in nature, comes into play. This is the first that communication ability of  a diplomat is effective to keep if from physical and hopefully achieve deescalation, etc. Hopefully this zone is never penetrated under any circumstances because all the other layers achieved avoidance. Your diplomatic ability is coupled with all your senses, your body language, your demeanor, and more ... so if training does not teach it, seek it elsewhere.

The next zone is your clear zone. That area where you still have the ability to detect and still avoid by say, "running or leaving the area or seeking an area of safety, etc." Your EWS has triggered alarms and your eyes, hearing, smelling, etc. are assisting all those trained academic knowledge material into some semblance of intent and action to avoid.

The next zone is one that extends as far as the eye can see and the ears can hear. This is the zone that provides a much larger buffer zone and a lot more time to consider the alarms, etc. Nature imbued us with instincts that are programmed in our DNA and Genes so they tend to trigger that so called "spidey sense" so we pay attention. I mean pay attention and disregard/remove the stories we tell or might tell ourselves that this sense "means nothing, it cannot possibly happen" type stories, etc.

If I had to pick the most dangerous moment for anyone who is practicing the Art of Avoidance for Self-Defense it is this moment where we try to hide in some comfort zone of it can't happen to me syndrome. Yes, we do live in a society that provides a great deal of safety and security. It is not bullet-proof.

If your self-analysis dictates you should learn the Art of Avoidance/Self-Defense then don't let the little voice of dissent dissuade you from listening to the EWS alarms. Look at it this way, find safety quick and what harm does it do, none. It may mean a few moments delay in your journey but the delay if you get attacked will be a lot more costly. Think about it.

Environmental Awareness: This layer speaks of both Self-Analysis of probability  of violent encounters where the places you go, you frequent, you need to pass through going to these places. Knowing this beforehand is paramount to avoidance. If you ignore them for convenience, etc. your asking for trouble and if you are asking then the probability of ending in violence is higher.

Know all the environments and what potential for violence they have so you can plan accordingly.

Self-awareness: Know thyself! Everything we do, say, encounter, experience, etc. is a direct result of "self." To me this means knowing how you think, act, talk, socialize, etc. so you will recognize those triggers that would send violence your way. This is especially important as to Self or "Ego." I would say in my limited experience and growing knowledge that the most responsible thing that always leads to or away from violence is knowing thyself, our ego's, or what some refer to as our "monkey brain."

A good maxim might be if you cannot take a picture of it, then it has done no damage you cannot recover from. If your being "dissed" or "insulted," etc. then the choice is all yours. If you allow such things to push your buttons and trigger anger, fear, resentment, etc. then you are open to responding in an inappropriate manner that can/will get you in deep.

All in all this is a mere tidbit of what I am trying to convey here as to the Art of Avoidance. Go to level one and try to continually learn and discover what violence is and what it takes to get there so you can avoid it at all costs.

Layers of avoidance are long and complicated. They have no real order of importance because it takes a "whole" to achieve success. Don't leave out any part and don't forget all the fundamentals/principles that are involved.

Remember, if you find you don't need it then don't yet if you have a remote chance of needing it, then do.

Scanning

To scan is to apply both conscious and unconscious awareness to the environment your body resides in at any one moment in time to achieve EWS capabilities which contribute immensely to our ability to perceive and determine when to "avoid" things that might put us into harms way.

Karate/karate-do + Ken-po Goku-i (yang + yin of martial systems) teaches us to use our body-mind to achieve something unique in our practice and life. A core teaching of both is the use of both "eyes and ears" to see and hear many things both literal and figurative as our minds interpret what is seen in scanning so we may act accordingly with out resorting to a somewhat ineffective, for our time, instinctive reaction to stimuli, etc.

Click for larger view.

Take a look at the associated graphic. I use it to help "see" how both "eyes and ears" are used in scanning. These are useless if one has not attained adequate knowledge of what to encode in the brain so the mind can evaluate its perceptions and translate them to useful data to act on. As can be seen, the eyes have both direct and peripheral vision while the ears have a much larger area to hear sounds that would trigger the eyes and head to rotate in the right direction for gathering more pertinent data to evaluate. All this when trained properly; when educated properly provide almost instantaneous responses/reactions/actions necessary to "avoid; deescalate; remain aware."

Using your imagination and training to rotate the head to the left and right provide your eyes, both direct and peripheral + hearing, a full three hundred eighty degree area coverage. If something is detected to the absolute rear by hearing an peripheral vision the body can turn ninety degrees either way to verify data before acting, if time permits.

Give this some serious consideration. After all, in my view, this scanning is actually the first physical training fundamental that provides the art of avoidance its best chance of success.